Bella Simkus

Arkansas

Sep 12 (Fri)

6 PM

Position:
Middle Blocker
Height:
6-1
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Denver, Colo.
High School:
Denver East
Major:
Architecture

Awards:

2X Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll (2022, 2023)

Career Highs:
Kills: 9 vs. CSU (9/20/24)
Blocks: 6 vs. UC Irvine (9/13/24)

Cumulative Career Statistics:
Kills: 94
Digs: 17
Blocks: 78

2024 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR):

Saw action in 30 matches and 108 sets for the Buffs
Finished the season with 83 kills, 66 blocks and 13 digs
Had 14 matches with zero errors and at least one kill
Notched a career-high nine kills against Colorado State (Sept. 20) with a .643 hitting percentage and no errors
Hit .600 or higher on six occasions and .400 or higher in 14 matches

2023 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE):

Saw action in seven sets and four matches
Totaled seven kills (0e, 15att, .467 hitting) and four blocks
Had a season-high five kills and matched her then career-high three blocks against Charlotte (Sept. 2)

2022 (SOPHOMORE):

Did not appear in any matches

2021 (FRESHMAN):

Competed in five matches
Totaled four kills, four digs and eight blocks
Had a season-high three blocks at ASU (Nov. 12)

HIGH SCHOOL:

Graduated from East High School in Denver, Colo., in 2021
Two-time varsity MVP
DPS First Team All-Conference (2021)
DPS Honorable Mention (2019)
She helped her team to a 20-7 record as a sophomore and a 10-14 mark as a junior
Helped lead her team to state in just her second year playing volleyball
Was a member of the Student Athletic Leadership Council for two years
Played club for Juggernaut (2018-2020, Coaches Jess Sponenberg Tarah Olmstead) and Front Range (2020-2021, Coach Jim Merrett)

PERSONAL:

Isabella Rose Simkus is the daughter of Marissa Sterrett, Lee Sterrett and Scott Simkus and was born in Louisville, Colo.
Has a younger sister, Lauren
Her most thrilling sports moment was beating CSU in Fort Collins in five sets during the 2023 season
Her biggest sports hero is Nikola Jokic because she’s been watching the Nuggets for years, and she’s admired his steady growth and humbleness through his 10 years with them – it goes to show that hard work pays off in the end.
Her favorite hobbies and pastimes are photography and making collages
She wants to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark or London, England
Her favorite food is sushi and her favorite musician is The Weeknd
Fun Fact: Played multiple different sports before starting volleyball, including soccer, fencing, jump rope, tennis, and basketball
After CU, she wants to get a job in her field and travel around the world
Chose to attend CU because of the great chemistry the team had, being able to stay close to home and the beautiful campus